Friday, March 22, 2013

I took inspiration from my own mirror inspiration post and changed the windows in my hall bath again. You know how sometimes you just aren't happy with something? That niggling feeling that you need to rethink it? Or, in my case, that in-your-face feeling that That's Just Wrong? That's how I felt about the checkerboard fabric in my windows. And the teal suede. It wasn't me - I'm not a glue-picture-to-fabric girl. I like to push things a little farther.

Soooo...

Yesterday the windows went from here

To here

Yup. Frames.

And then here

Pulling out all the teal suede gave me an opportunity to refine my skills at finding thumbtacks with stocking feet alone. Pretty soon I'll be ready for competition.

The tops of the windows gave me grief.
First I thought 'found objects hot-glued to wood.' Nah, too rustic. Besides, I didn't have enough little treasures I was willing to hot glue.
So that idea was out.

Tiny mirrors propped in the panes?

(Geez, lighten up with the mirrors all ready!)

I was wishing I could ink jet transfer onto glass but that skill eludes me. BUT! I could print out transparencies instead of the paper images I've been using.

I trimmed the transparencies and affixed them to the glass. I'm liking it so far, there is a subtle 3D effect now.

On the big frames I used MMS Milk Paint over randomly applied bonding agent. I wanted a little bit of control over the chipping. The joke was on me however, I must have skimped on the bonding agent because the paint chipped its little heart out.

The little frames are ASCP.

I ditched hanging the little frames because it was getting too
shabby for my aesthetic. I tried it and forgot to take a picture before I
ripped them out of there. I went for randomly propping the frames in to
see what that looked like. yay! I liked.

Then I spent an hour looking for my double-sided carpet tape. Never did find it so I used some Gorilla Tape I found in the garage. Strange tape, that. But it worked after I figured out its idiosyncrasies.

Is the 3rd time the charm? Will I wake up next week and wonder what I was thinking? Maybe.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

They're creepy and they're kooky, mysterious and spooky. They're all together ooky .......

I found where Halloween hides while it"s waiting for October.

At first I wasn't going to go.

I hemmed and hawed and looked at the Craigslist pictures but I really didn't want to drive that far ..... then I saw it. Wayyyy back in the corner. What the heck is that? The stuff of nightmares, that's what.

For some reason that clinched it and I went to the sale if only to see what was up with the giant bear. Or is it a mouse?

It all looked so normal when I got there even though the barn was almost completely dark. And it was so, so, SO COLD! I couldn't stop shivering. I was so cold I couldn't concentrate.

I went up and down all the tables, speed-shopping.
I think I was hunched over with cold as a matter of fact. And my nose
was running.

It didn't matter if I was freezing because I knew I-Must-Prevail.I am Picker, Hear Me Roar! Plus I'd driven, like, 45 miles. So I found a few things: a rocking horse, a couple metal table bases, some tools and a nice curio cabinet.

Then I took note of the bear. Then I noticed the bin full of masks and,
uhhh, body parts? Shudder.
Up close he is not a nice bear. Then I took a slow look around.

Oh, good lord! My worst nightmare. CLOWNS! I feel sick.

An alligator! Eating raw meat!

More body parts.

The 'parts' again. Wait. Are those prizes?

Oh my gosh, there was so much creepy stuff just beyond the tape, lurking in the semi-dark, I half way expected to see the giant desk from the hoarder sale I went to.

I asked the seller if it was a closed amusement park but she said it was a haunted house. Ohhhhh. Okay, that made sense. No wonder there were
bins of masks.

Of course! Why else would there be a row of skulls just outside? And a hearse parked in a shed?

And a barrel of alien slime? Interesting garage sale, I'd have to say. I mean, how many times to you get to go to a haunted garage sale?

I wonder if the family's last name is Addams?

All in all it was a good, if a bit unusual, sale. I was happy with what I found and even happier when a nice man loaded my car for me. Sadly, the mirrored back of the curio broke on the way home. sigh

But as I left I had to wonder, how in the world did I not see
THIS on the way in?

Friday, March 15, 2013

I love old, foxed mirrors. Well, that's only kinda true. I actually obsess over them and want to own them all. At estate sales and thrift shops I grab the wavy, black-speckled mirrors every time. Luckily for me most people regard them as ugly and damaged and not worth having. I've even been asked what in the world I would want "that" for. All I can say is all the more for me. Bwah ha ha ha ha.

I plan to do a 'gallery' wall with my lovely-flawed frameless mirrors once I have enough variety of sizes. Then I'll need a wall and sadly, there's only one available. I just have to finish a faux barn door project to free up the wall space and I'm not able to do that without major help. So, until then my wall is in my imagination and in blogs all over cyber-space. I live vicariously through other people's mirror walls.

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Sometimes you just have to
mix it up. The reason I like frameless mirrors for gallery walls is they
look uncluttered. This wall appeals to me as well because all the elements compliment each
other and are monochromatic. I could relax in the tub and
look at this wall for hours.

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The minute I find 5 matching mirrors this is SO happening on
my new mantel!

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This is another project I can see myself doing because it would make a great focal point. I have the perfect mirror for it, too.

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I would give up all my mirrors if I could have this Venetian mirror. Well, there are a couple I'd keep, or maybe three. Or four. Ah-hem, I would give up LOTS of my mirrors if I could have this Venetian mirror.

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Venetian mirrors in collages - not as busy as one would expect. They make a more feminine wall than the plain frameless ones. I think Mr. Bad would react the same to a venetian wall as he did when he (mistakenly) thought I was painting the bedroom pink.

Christy of Our Southern Home SC posted the before and after of her wall which illustrates why I, personally, think coordinating to reduce the chaos factor is important.

Before

This is her trial layout on the floor. The mismatched frames and red shelves don't have the same inviting feel as a more monochromatic wall.

After

Christy painted the frames and shelves to match and the look is entirely different! She created a fabulous wall chronicling her children's Santa pictures through the years. And changing that old golf print into a chalkboard was inspired!

Here's my own 'before' wall - on the floor.

Yep, my mirrors are too big or too small for the most part. I need to find some mid-size mirrors that are juuuust right.

Remember I said I had mirrors I wouldn't give up?

This is my favorite mirror out of the couple dozen I have. I just happened upon it. I was driving through a neighboring town and impulsively followed a yard sale sign. The sale turned out to be at what looked entirely like a meth house. I would have driven on by except there was an old juke box in the yard making me think there was a possibility of other fun stuff. I love my $1 mirror! I'm so glad I stopped.

In collecting my inspirational images I ran across 2 blogs that are wealths of inspiration and ideas. One is dishfunctionaldesigns.blogspot.com and the other is littlebluedeer.com. Dishfunctional Designs has ideas for windows, doors, shutters, you name it! And Little Blue Deer, well, you just have to go there. It's eye candy for creative types.

Friday, March 8, 2013

While glue or paint was drying on the jelly cupboard I redecorated the eastern half the guest bathroom. I guess I'm working my way around the room but I didn't plan it that way. It just kinda started happening.

Years ago we got rid of the wallpaper that had ducks wearing giant blue bows around their necks running around the perimeter. It was cute for about a minute. We got rid of that and then didn't do much of anything to the bathroom until I got a wild hair a few weeks ago.

I had to change things up. The beige walls, beige windows, beige carpet (sigh), beige cabinet and the boring glass tub enclosure had their days numbered. I was a woman with a plan. A half-baked plan but none the less ......

I didn't take a picture of the first step because at the time I didn't know it was a first step. I had a collage of white frames and mirrors up on the wall, but it just didn't work and I didn't want to struggle to get it right. It would have involved repairs and spackle and molly boltsand I prefer old windows anyway. So we're starting here with Step 2. "Adding Color."

Notice that the bathroom is carpeted? All the bathrooms were carpeted. Why would someone do that? Was it a fad in the 80s? When I do the other half of the bathroom, this carpet is a goner!

This is one bland room, really bland.

Until you look closely,

and see that the windows are chippy perfection.

I found some images of bohemian bathrooms and put them behind the windows,

along with some checkerboard fabric that reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. I would love, love, love to paint a large harlequin on the floor just like the photo. Has anyone painted wall-to-wall carpet? Kidding.

Out came the Milk Paint.

With all its unpredictable chippiness.

I didn't have any of the bonding agent so all I could do was stand back and yell "Stop! Stop!"

Interestingly, the drawers didn't chip as much. And the body of the cabinet had only one wee chip and a few scraggly spots around the door frames.

I thought stark white pulls would be nice against the distressed paint. I'm liking it so far.

So, has anyone seen the note cards

that feature a penguin, standing with 1000s of penguins,

belting out the song "I've Got to be Me!"

Yep, I've got to be me. And Holy Cow, take a look at the size of that rabbit!

The White Rabbit and Beatrix Potter's Fierce Bad Rabbit were my inspiration in naming Bad Rabbit Vintage. I love images of them both. And while the rabbit on the shower curtain isn't the actual White Rabbit, it's still fun.

I don't know that this shower curtain will stand the test of time but for now it puts a big, goofy grin on my face. And that goofy happiness is a real weapon against Stupid Cancer!

Who even knew there were shower curtains made for us White Rabbit fans?

Well, I said I wanted color, right? Some visual interest?

Here we're looking back across the hall to my workroom. Wait, what's that?

So, just to wrap it up - here's the before and after wash stand which pretty much summarizes the entire bathroom re-do.

Hopefully it won't take me forever to do the other side of the bathroom. But I can't forget I want to redecorate the utility room and get rid of that ice cream cone wallpaper trim! Unlike big White Rabbits, it DOES NOT put a big goofy grin on my face.

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About Me

I am an artist and graphic designer who has fallen in love with painting furniture. This furniture passion has helped me fight a rare and aggressive cancer, for which there is no cure, and I hope I can inspire others as I continue on my journey. I live a happy, creative life on a small farm with my awesome hubby, 3-1/2 cats and 3 mini horses. Plus whatever deer, turkeys, bears, foxes, hares or coyotes that wander by.
I can be reached at bad.rabbit.vintage@gmail.com